Whitecaps-Real Salt Lake: Inside the game

Gary Kingston, Vancouver Sun04.12.2013

Darren Mattocks of the Whitecaps and Ashtone Morgan of Toronto FC (right) take to the air to play the ball during their March 2 game at BC Place Stadium. Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie says Mattocks has looked ‘confident’ in practice this week.

While the Whitecaps have struggled to finish good scoring opportunities (vs. Columbus, Houston and Chivas) or to just create chances (only two shots on goal in San Jose), Real Salt Lake is having an even tougher time finding the back of the net. RSL has been shutout in three of its six games, despite ranking third in Major League Soccer in shots (84) and second in shots on goal (29).

“I can’t get too down about it,” says RSL head coach Jason Kreis. “I just say it’s a little bit unlucky and a little bit of a lack of focus on that last touch.”

Still, it’s a disturbing trend. RSL finished 2012 being shutout in its last five games over all competitions.

HOME COOKING:

It’s been five weeks since the Whitecaps last played at BC Place. A bye week and three road games made for the extended early-season absence. And Saturday’s game against Real Salt Lake is just a one off.

The Caps are back on the road in Dallas on April 20 and in Edmonton April 24 for the first game of the Canadian championship series. They don’t play back-to-back MLS home games until May 11 (LA Galaxy) and May 18 (Portland).

The fans should, then, be charged up for this one and the atmosphere should be good. Can the Caps respond with the kind of energy and intensity that will be expected?

MEN POSSESSED:

Vancouver has made a concerted effort this season to maintain possession of the ball for longer stretches this season and to try to build the attack through midfield. The additions of the skilful Nigel Reo-Coker and Daigo Kobayashi have helped, although it has yet to pay off in a flurry of goal scoring.

So far, the Caps have enjoyed the possession advantage in every game except the season-opener against Toronto. But playing a ball control game has also led to some costly mistakes while under pressure in the defensive zone, with poor decisions or execution from Jun Marques Davidson and Alain Rochat leading to goals against.

• PLAYERS TO WATCH:

DARREN MATTOCKS, Whitecaps:

The Jamaica-born striker is expected to draw back into the lineup Saturday after being relegated to the bench last weekend in San Jose.

While head coach Martin Rennie continues to insist the change was made to reward hard-working Corey Hertzog, who got the start and scored the lone goal, and not to send a message to Mattocks, the speedy forward admits he’s been “putting a lot more effort in (in practice this week), while still being Darren.” He has only two home goals as a Cap. He should be primed to add to that total.

ALVARO SABORIO, Real Salt Lake:

The Costa Rican forward is one of the most dangerous forwards in MLS. Last season, his 17 goals were third best in the league behind San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski and Kenny Cooper of New York. He scored twice in RSL’s 2-0 season-opening win in San Jose, but has just one goal since for a Utah side that has only five goals in seven games.

Last weekend, Saborio had a 10th-minute penalty kick saved in a 1-0 loss in Colorado, his first miss in 13 career PK attempts for RSL.

“If he scores that penalty, then he probably goes on to score two or three more, because he got several clear chances and was very unlucky,” said Kreis.

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Whitecaps-Real Salt Lake: Inside the game

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